15 Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Shows to Hit in 2013

Dig through the local paper or community website in the spring and summer and it's easy to find car shows. But let's be honest—if you've seen one bright red '57 Chevy with a swapped-in Corvette motor, you've seen 57 of them. It's the oddball events featuring rare and unique vehicles that really hold our interest.

Houston Art Car Parade

Houston Art Car Parade

Where: Houston, TexasWhen: May 9–11

The wild and wacky Houston Art Car Parade started in 1984 and has grown to become one of the largest gatherings of art cars in the country. Art cars can be anything artistic or vaguely artistic, from a car decorated with fruit (from the original 1984 event) to a motorized high heel shoe to a Ford Edsel designed to look like an earthmover. Today the three-day celebration attracts 250 cars and a quarter-million spectators.

Vanfest

Vanfest

Where: Aylmer, Ontario, CanadaWhen: June 7–9

Custom '70s-style vans are in the midst of a revival, and why not? They're awesome. One of the largest gatherings is Vanfest. This Canadian event is a short drive from Detroit or Buffalo, and that's good news for van and truck fans because last year's get-together, Vanfest 17, drew nearly 200 vans and trucks in the official show. This year promises even more cool rides.